opposition leader Belden Namah

Namah pays tribute to DPM Basil

Opposition Leader Belden Namah has expressed sorrow at the passing of Deputy Prime Minister and Bulolo MP, Sam Basil. 
 
“It is with the heaviest of heart that I received the news of the tragic passing of our Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport, the Member of Bulolo and the Leader of the United Labour Party, Sam Basil,” Namah stated.
 

PM Responds To Criticism

In June, the Prime Minister had stated that the mine would be reopened by PNG’s 46th Anniversary as a gift to PNG.

 In a statement released this week, Mr Namah said the PM is making a laughing stock of the country.

“When National Day dawned last Thursday, September 16th, the Prime Minister had the audacity to express his disappointment to the nation that he had come up empty handed, and set yet another deadline at “two weeks’ time”.

Opposition to challenge Parliament adjournment in court

Opposition leader Belden Namah told this newsroom that the Government deliberately adjourned Parliament into the 12 months grace period before the next election effectively, to avoid the Vote of No Confidence.

Namah argued that this adjournment means that the 63 days constitutional sitting requirement will be badly breached.

“This is a serious constitutional breach,” Namah said.

He said the Controller nor Parliament has the right to breach that.

The Election of James Marape as Prime Minister is legal

The decision was handed down this morning at the Supreme Court in Port Moresby.

The five men bench unanimously dismissed the application; Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, Justice David Cannings, Justice George Manuhu, Justice Derrick Hartshorn and Justice Ere Kariko.

In handing down the decision, Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika said, all five judges highly dismiss the case and have instructed the applicant to pay cost to the interveners on a party-party basis.

The decision was reached after all five Judges individually read out their verdicts.

PM’s election remains Supreme Court matter

Namah, in his capacity as the Opposition leader, had sought court declaration over the legality of Marape’s election on May 30, 2019.

Prime Minister Marape’s election to the government’s top post remains a Supreme Court matter after a five-man bench dismissed his application to stop Namah from disputing his election as Prime Minister.

Interested parties told to file joinder application

This is the reference Namah filed on September 23, seeking an interpretation over the legality of James Marape's election as Prime Minister on May 30th, 2019.

Lawyers representing the referrer (Namah) and those of other interested parties; The Speaker of parliament, Attorney General, Deputy Opposition Leader and Prime Minister James Marape, appeared in court for directions today.